Sunday, December 19, 2010

After weeks of worrying about getting my visa in time for my departure date (apparently the swiss visa takes 4 months to process, and i have about 2 months before I depart), AFS Switzerland sent me a recomendation letter so I could apply for my visa despite not having a host family. This was such good news as I had been stressing over when I would get my host family and if I would be able to apply for my visa in time.

Anyway I sent my visa application off on thursday last week, and today the guy from the visa office in Sydney rang to say my visa has been accepted and is ready to put in my passport!! It took 3 days to process my visa! I was expecting 2 - 3 months but 3 days is great! I seriously thought that I would end up having to postpone my departure date because I wouldnt get my visa in time!

Still no news about host family though :( but at least visa is sorted!

Anyway, 5 days till christmas, and then 6 days untill I go to Japan for skiing with my family!!!! and finally 67 days untill I depart for Switzerland!

Monday, December 6, 2010

I still haven't heard anything from AFS, about my visa or host family, so am still waiting on that information, but its now summer holidays which is great, as I can now just relax and prepare for Switzerland! I leave in less than 3 months time!!

As most people are curious, as to why I decided to go back to school in a foreign country rather than go straight on to university, I have decided to explain how I found out about AFS, and why I am choosing this oppurtunity:

Before AFS came to talk at my school, I had no idea as to what a student exchange was, and at that time I was planning on going straight to university, and continue my triathlons and training. After AFS spoke to us, I looked into the program, and applied about 1 week before the application date closed, so I was really lucky to be accepted to my first and only preference of Switzerland!! (I initially wanted to go to Italy, but AFS Australia doesnt offer year programs to Italy) - Theres also about 6 other girls from my school going on exchange with AFS, but no one is going to Switzerland. I am also the only person from Western Australia that has chosen Switzerland (I dont know if that is a good thing or a bad thing)!

I am so glad I was offered this amazing oppurtunity, and am looking forward to learning a new language, going to school again, and living in a new culture. AFS has told me to start learning the language of my host country, but as Switzerland has four official languages: German, French, Italian and Romansh, I dont know what to learn!!